Five Minutes With... Chef Chand from Rani Indian Restaurant

You cooked for royalty back in 2006 – chosen over every top chef in India to cook for The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and The Duchess of Cornwall – what was that like? 

The experience was very good. When I started – I have 34 years of experience in Indian and Tandoori kitchens – I worked for lots of people in India like film stars, and celebrities like Abdul Kalam, President of India.

Prince Charles went to the Punjab CM House and there was a three-day party in the Patilia House.

What was the drive/inspiration to open your own establishment? And why was Newcastle the perfect place for it? 

I came here on a work permit, somebody sponsored me from India. I worked for ten years in Sachins Restaurant – he’s like a master chef, Sachins Newcastle! – and thought 'why not start your own business?’ If you work for other people, you can start for yourself. Then I set my mind - my family can help me, and we can start our own business.

You took over Rani just two weeks before the first COVID-19 lockdown hit – what was that experience like? 

Lockdown was a big problem, big trouble! The government helped me and after that we started in August with ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ where people would come from their houses to the restaurant. People would come into the city, eat our food and get our taste. Only in our area is like Bengali people, Bengali chefs, not typical Indian chefs. I’m from North India, near Delhi. I worked in the Delhi, I worked in Mumbai, I worked in Goa. Then after that, I came to the UK. I got a good opportunity!

Are there any personal favourites that you’d recommend off the menu? 

Our favourites are butter chicken old Delhi style and lamb belidam. If you like something hot, green chilli murgh is very good. People say ‘vindaloo’s hot, vindaloo’s hot, vindaloo’s hot!’ but it’s not very good for the health. That’s lots of red chilli powder. I’m using fresh green chillis in my dishes, just how people like it. Lots of people come here from Tyneside, they come here only for the green chilli murgh. People like it hot, very hot!

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt over the last 34 years in the industry? 

Try to get the good food every time. I go to the market, buy my whole spices, and use it. I’m not using any packet masala – I’m using my own masala, in all dishes!

So, the next time you fancy an Indian, why not take a trip to Rani Indian Restaurant? If it's good enough for royalty, then it's definitely worth a try!

Rani Indian Restaurant is located at 2 Queen Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UG and is open Sunday to Thursday from 5:30pm to 11pm and from 5pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information visit www.ranirestaurant.co.uk.